Tag Archives: felino

The last installment in our “Cat Senses Study” is the one that covers more ground: touch. Our bodies are covered in shiny hair coats that serve as natural warm jackets in the cold weather and as sun deterrents during the summer months. Some humans assume that because we seem to handle the weather perfectly that we’re immune to the dangers of it. That is simply not true. Just because we keep our cool at all times doesn’t mean we don’t get heat stroked or hypothermia in extreme conditions.

To help in these situations, we have specific sensitive spots that react to temperature changes and touch receptors (located mostly in our paw pads and tongue) that acquire information about our surroundings.

The masters of our sense of touch are, without a doubt, the whiskers. These clever hairs are thicker, stronger, go deeper inside our body than any other hair and can move in different directions; this gives them a direct connection to nerves and blood vessels that travel thru our brain, sending instructions like “avoid that chair” or “road ends ahead”.

The whiskers instruct us where to go, how big is the obstacle and tell you how we’re feeling. Pic Wanda de la Vega

How do they do it? The whiskers scientific name is vibrissae, and as the name suggests, they pick up any sudden changes in airflow, any vibration around us, sending that message straight to the brain, showing us the right path to take. You don’t think there are air currents between the chairs and the dining room table? Oh yes there are and we feel them. Whiskers help us keep our graceful strut, gives us confidence to glide around furniture, rooftops and people’s legs.

They allow us to “see” up close. Our big eyes can capture peripheral and long distance vision, but it’s hard to decipher what’s right in front of us. Whiskers send info about the prey’s size and location so we can go for the kill in the dark (take that catnip mouse!). A useful attribute to have as we grow older or turn blind, we may walk slower but we know where we’re going.

Whiskers are also mood indicators:

Relaxed looking down? Sign of a chill cat

Straight back? Kitty’s not happy, ready to pounce

Up front and very straight? In hunting mode

All these characteristics make them a big part of our feline je ne sais quoi factor. Some humans think it’s funny to cut a cat’s whiskers, but let me tell you, losing them disrupts our sense of direction, kitty feels lost, stumbling around trying to find the way to the litterbox or even worse, our way home. Not a fun game at all. Respect the vibrissae.

“My cat is peeing outside the litterbox” is a common concern amongst feline guardians – usually new ones. Sometimes it’s a sign of a medical issue, but the majority of the cases are completely human created. They want a cat but hate the idea of a litterbox in the home, disguising them in ways that are so outrageous, even our highly trained noses can’t find.

Felines are majestic creatures that sadly share some un-godly characteristics with every other living beings on the planet; we pee and poop and need a spot to do it in. If it’s not the litterbox, watch out ’cause anything goes! plants, couches, antique rugs, your precious boots…

Sometimes the problem gets so out of hand that the poor kitty ends up at the shelter when a simple solution would’ve solved the case: Get a litterbox. Maybe 2. It is part of the “Living with a Cat” kit.

Sometimes a feral cat decides to change her life and be adopted. Photo: Glorivette Anibarro

Dr. Avocado: I have tried without success to adopt a couple of kitties that live outdoors in my neighborhood. They have been neutered and vaccinated, are kind of friendly (meaning they know me – I feed them) but refuse to come inside the house. Do feral cats live a healthy life? Thanks for your input, Determined Human.

My dear Determined Human: First of all, thank you for caring so much about my feral feline friends (say that 3 times), we need more people like you!

Now to answer your question: A feral feline lives the life of every wild animal on the planet: one of everyday struggle to survive. She has to find food and water, a decent shelter to protect her from the elements and last but not least, multiply. The fact that you see her doing this around your city instead of a wildlife documentary may confuse you, but doesn’t make it less real. It doesn’t sound very magical, but feral cats adapt to any circumstance and make the best of it. Sure their life is cut shorter -average life span is 5 years – but for many is still way better than living 20 indoors. As good as adapting as we are, not every cat wants to live inside a home.

You see, when cats started mingling with humans, they were outdoor creatures that helped keep the farm rodent free. Humans in turn, will allow them to live in their farms. As cities started developing, cats and their colonies learned to live in concrete jungles instead of country farms, for them it was the same deal with different buildings. But now here some people see this as a problem. Thankfully, a lot are finally accepting them as part of your society. This is where it gets interesting.

The TNR movement (as in Trap, Neuter, Return) is catching on, spaying, neutering and vaccinating the colony cats thus eliminating our lovely mating ritual sounds, the smelly scents around the homes and giving them a good healthy shot to a longer life.

Humans and cats can coexist happily. A feral colony that has been spayed and neutered will keep your surroundings free of any pesty visitors like rats while giving the neighborhood the cool factor. Many of these felines make friends with the humans (like your backyard visitors), allowing for some contact and acknowledgment, but still keeping their distance.

Making new friends: If you like having the kitties hanging around the homes, maybe other neighbors feel the same way. Start a club! Get them involved. Talk to the shelter about how to TNR.

Once neutered and vaccinated the cats will not present any problems, but an even better way to keep the peace is by providing them with food and water so they don’t have to visit your trashcans every night. Setting up a couple of feeding stations where humans go at a specific time every day to place food and fresh water is a great idea. Trust me, we are very good at keeping time. You are no longer just “looking” at the cats, you start a relationship with them; giving them names, getting to know their personalities and yes, maybe even convincing one of them to live at home (hey, it happens).

Best of all, you are sure that your cool outdoor friends are now safe and leading a healthy, longer life.

• Last seen on Friday playing with the neighbor’s cat.
• Thrown out of the house for stealing the ribs at the dinner table.
• Subject friendly but mischievous.
• Fluent in English, Spanish and Feline languages.